The experience and management of neck pain in general practice: the patients’ perspective

The objective of this study is to investigate the perspective and expectation of patients presenting with neck pain in general practice. The study design is a qualitative analysis of patient interviews and was conducted in a primary care setting in Germany. Twenty patients aged 20–78, according to theoretical sampling were included in the study. Patients tried to cope autonomously with the situation and consulted GPs only if their self-help had failed. When patients asked for external help, they usually focused on somatic treatment options such as massage, physiotherapy or injections. Most patients reported to have experiences with somatic therapies; however, they felt that some or all of these treatments were inefficient or led only to short-time improvements. Patients often avoided psychosocial themes when talking to doctors for fear of being branded as ‘neurotic’. Although neck pain is difficult to manage and a burden for patients, they have obviously found a way of both living with their pain and a pragmatic approach of talking about their symptoms with their doctor. According to the patients’ statements, the interaction between doctor and patient seems to be rather distant, ensuring that both sides avoid any issues that might touch upon psychological aspects of neck pain

A Novel Mutation Involving the Initiation Codon of FGF3 in a Family Described with Complete Inner Ear Agenesis, Microtia and Major Microdontia (LAMM Syndrome)

LAMM syndrome (OMIM #610706) is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by the association of Michel aplasia, microdontia and malformation of the external ear. Different mutations in FGF3 gene were reported in several families presenting with this syndrome. Clinical features and genetic results observed in a family with LAMM syndrome are reported. The diagnosis of isolated Michel aplasia was initially made in this family composed of two affected children. Microtia and microdontia was recently evidenced in both patients suggesting the diagnosis of LAMM syndrome. New auditory and orodental iconography was performed permitting to describe the patients’ phenotype in depth and to report rare findings of LAMM syndrome. The sequencing of FGF3 gene identified a novel missense mutation (c.2T>G), substituting the first initiator methionine in arginine, in the fibroblast growth factor 3 (FGF3) at the homozygous state in both patients. LAMM syndrome was confirmed and appropriate genetic counseling performed

The ANTENATAL multicentre study to predict postnatal renal outcome in fetuses with posterior urethral valves: objectives and design

Abstract Background Posterior urethral valves (PUV) account for 17% of paediatric end-stage renal disease. A major issue in the management of PUV is prenatal prediction of postnatal renal function. Fetal ultrasound and fetal urine biochemistry are currently employed for this prediction, but clearly lack precision. We previously developed a fetal urine peptide signature that predicted in utero with high precision postnatal renal function in fetuses with PUV. We describe here the objectives and design of the prospective international multicentre ANTENATAL (multicentre validation of a fetal urine peptidome-based classifier to predict postnatal renal function in posterior urethral valves) study, set up to validate this fetal urine peptide signature. Methods Participants will be PUV pregnancies enrolled from 2017 to 2021 and followed up until 2023 in >30 European centres endorsed and supported by European reference networks for rare urological disorders (ERN eUROGEN) and rare kidney diseases (ERN ERKNet). The endpoint will be renal/patient survival at 2 years postnatally. Assuming α = 0.05, 1–β = 0.8 and a mean prevalence of severe renal outcome in PUV individuals of 0.35, 400 patients need to be enrolled to validate the previously reported sensitivity and specificity of the peptide signature. Results In this largest multicentre study of antenatally detected PUV, we anticipate bringing a novel tool to the clinic. Based on urinary peptides and potentially amended in the future with additional omics traits, this tool will be able to precisely quantify postnatal renal survival in PUV pregnancies. The main limitation of the employed approach is the need for specialized equipment. Conclusions Accurate risk assessment in the prenatal period should strongly improve the management of fetuses with PUV

Confrontation of fibroblasts with cancer cells in vitro: Gene network analysis of transcriptome changes and differential capacity to inhibit tumor growth

Background: There is growing evidence that emerging malignancies in solid tissues might be kept under control by physical intercellular contacts with normal fibroblasts. Methods: Here we characterize transcriptional landscapes of fibroblasts that confronted cancer cells. We studied four pairs of in vitro and ex vivo fibroblast lines which, within each pair, differed in their capacity to inhibit cancer cells. The natural process was modeled in vitro by confronting the fibroblasts with PC-3 cancer cells. Fibroblast transcriptomes were recorded by Affymetrix microarrays and then investigated using network analysis. Results: The network enrichment analysis allowed us to separate confrontation- and inhibition-specific components of the fibroblast transcriptional response. Confrontation-specific differences were stronger and were characterized by changes in a number of pathways, including Rho, the YAP/TAZ cascade, NF-kB, and TGF-beta signaling, as well as the transcription factor RELA. Inhibition-specific differences were more subtle and characterized by involvement of Rho signaling at the pathway level and by potential individual regulators such as IL6, MAPK8, MAP2K4, PRKCA, JUN, STAT3, and STAT5A. Conclusions: We investigated the interaction between cancer cells and fibroblasts in order to shed light on the potential mechanisms and explain the differential inhibitory capacity of the latter, which enabled both a holistic view on the process and details at the gene/protein level. The combination of our methods pointed to proteins, such as members of the Rho pathway, pro-inflammatory signature and the YAP1/TAZ cascade, that warrant further investigation via tools of experimental perturbation. We also demonstrated functional congruence between the in vitro and ex vivo models. © 2015 Alexeyenko et al

Raw values of boundary layer OIO measurements at Neumayer III station, Antarctica from January 2016 to August 2018

From January 2016 until August 2018, an automated Long-Path Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (LP-DOAS) instrument was operated at the German research station Neumayer III (NMIII) in coastal Antarctica to measure trace gas mixing ratios in the boundary layer close to the ground (average altitude above the snow surface: 4m). Two different atmospheric light paths with total lengths of 3100 m and 5900m were used depending on visibility. The DOAS evaluation of OIO was performed between 532.5 and 549 nm. Fits with residual optical density RMS (root mean square) values larger than 4.0e-4 were discarded. The resulting mean residual RMS is 2.3e-4. The mean detection limit is 12 pmol/mol. The data sets include the observations below the respective detection limit scattered around 0, which due to the spectral analysis with the DOAS approach can include negative values. OIO was not detected above a 3-sigma detection limit. Since total errors and hence detection limits are determined from spectral information, the detection limit of OIO can serve as an upper limit for an atmospheric presence. The mixing ratios provided here were calculated using meteorological data from Neumayer III station already published on PANGAEA. A list of data sets is included in the "Related to" section of the bibliography this data set is part of. The spectral raw data of the measurements is stored on the measurement data server of the Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Heidelberg

Raw values of boundary layer BrO measurements at Neumayer III station, Antarctica from January 2016 to August 2018

From January 2016 until August 2018, an automated Long-Path Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (LP-DOAS) instrument was operated at the German research station Neumayer III (NMIII) in coastal Antarctica to measure trace gas mixing ratios in the boundary layer close to the ground (average altitude above the snow surface: 4m). Two different atmospheric light paths with total lengths of 3100 m and 5900m were used depending on visibility. The DOAS evaluation of BrO was performed between 301.7 and 346.4 nm as well as between 332.5 and 370.5 nm (for subsequent measurements in two different instrumental setups). Fits with residual optical density RMS (root mean square) values larger than 4.0e-4 and 3.5e-4 respectively were discarded. The resulting mean residual RMS are 2.4e-4 and 2.2e-4 respectively. The mean detection limits of the two evaluations are 2.2 and 3.8 pmol/mol. The data sets include the observations below the respective detection limit scattered around 0, which due to the spectral analysis with the DOAS approach can include negative values. Significant data points can be selected using the separately provided detection limits (3-sigma criterion - recommended). Alternatively, the total errors can be used. The mixing ratios provided here were calculated using meteorological data from Neumayer III station already published on PANGAEA. A list of data sets is included in the "Related to" section of the bibliography this data set is part of. The spectral raw data of the measurements is stored on the measurement data server of the Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Heidelberg

Raw values of boundary layer ClO measurements at Neumayer III station, Antarctica from January 2016 to August 2018

From January 2016 until August 2018, an automated Long-Path Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (LP-DOAS) instrument was operated at the German research station Neumayer III (NMIII) in coastal Antarctica to measure trace gas mixing ratios in the boundary layer close to the ground (average altitude above the snow surface: 4m). An atmospheric light path with a total length of 3100 m was used. The DOAS evaluation of ClO was performed between 287.0 and 306.0 nm. Fits with residual optical density RMS (root mean square) values larger than 5e-4 were discarded. The resulting mean residual RMS is 2.2e-4. The mean detection limit is 11 pmol/mol. The data sets include the observations below the respective detection limit scattered around 0, which due to the spectral analysis with the DOAS approach can include negative values. Significant data points can be selected using the separately provided detection limits (3-sigma criterion - recommended). Alternatively, the total errors can be used. The mixing ratios provided here were calculated using meteorological data from Neumayer III station already published on PANGAEA. A list of data sets is included in the "Related to" section of the bibliography this data set is part of. The spectral raw data of the measurements is stored on the measurement data server of the Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Heidelberg

Raw values of boundary layer Br2 measurements at Neumayer III station, Antarctica from January 2016 to August 2018

From January 2016 until August 2018, an automated Long-Path Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (LP-DOAS) instrument was operated at the German research station Neumayer III (NMIII) in coastal Antarctica to measure trace gas mixing ratios in the boundary layer close to the ground (average altitude above the snow surface: 4m). Two different atmospheric light paths with total lengths of 3100 m and 5900m were used depending on visibility. The DOAS evaluation of Br2 was performed between 532.5 and 549 nm. Fits with residual optical density RMS (root mean square) values larger than 4.0e-4 were discarded. The resulting mean residual RMS is 2.3e-4. The mean detection limit is 3.9 nmol/mol. The data sets include the observations below the respective detection limit scattered around 0, which due to the spectral analysis with the DOAS approach can include negative values. Br2 was not detected above a 3-sigma detection limit. Since total errors and hence detection limits are determined from spectral information, the detection limit of Br2 can serve as an upper limit for an atmospheric presence. The mixing ratios provided here were calculated using meteorological data from Neumayer III station already published on PANGAEA. A list of data sets is included in the "Related to" section of the bibliography this data set is part of. The spectral raw data of the measurements is stored on the measurement data server of the Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Heidelberg

Raw values of boundary layer I2 measurements at Neumayer III station, Antarctica from January 2016 to August 2018

From January 2016 until August 2018, an automated Long-Path Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (LP-DOAS) instrument was operated at the German research station Neumayer III (NMIII) in coastal Antarctica to measure trace gas mixing ratios in the boundary layer close to the ground (average altitude above the snow surface: 4m). Two different atmospheric light paths with total lengths of 3100 m and 5900m were used depending on visibility. The DOAS evaluation of I2 was performed between 532.5 and 549 nm. Fits with residual optical density RMS (root mean square) values larger than 4.0e-4 were discarded. The resulting mean residual RMS is 2.3e-4. The mean detection limit is 78 pmol/mol. The data sets include the observations below the respective detection limit scattered around 0, which due to the spectral analysis with the DOAS approach can include negative values. I2 was not detected above a 3-sigma detection limit. Since total errors and hence detection limits are determined from spectral information, the detection limit of I2 can serve as an upper limit for an atmospheric presence. The mixing ratios provided here were calculated using meteorological data from Neumayer III station already published on PANGAEA. A list of data sets is included in the "Related to" section of the bibliography this data set is part of. The spectral raw data of the measurements is stored on the measurement data server of the Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Heidelberg

Raw values of boundary layer I2 measurements at Neumayer III station, Antarctica from January 2016 to August 2018

From January 2016 until August 2018, an automated Long-Path Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (LP-DOAS) instrument was operated at the German research station Neumayer III (NMIII) in coastal Antarctica to measure trace gas mixing ratios in the boundary layer close to the ground (average altitude above the snow surface: 4m). Two different atmospheric light paths with total lengths of 3100 m and 5900m were used depending on visibility. The DOAS evaluation of I2 was performed between 532.5 and 549 nm. Fits with residual optical density RMS (root mean square) values larger than 4.0e-4 were discarded. The resulting mean residual RMS is 2.3e-4. The mean detection limit is 78 pmol/mol. The data sets include the observations below the respective detection limit scattered around 0, which due to the spectral analysis with the DOAS approach can include negative values. I2 was not detected above a 3-sigma detection limit. Since total errors and hence detection limits are determined from spectral information, the detection limit of I2 can serve as an upper limit for an atmospheric presence. The mixing ratios provided here were calculated using meteorological data from Neumayer III station already published on PANGAEA. A list of data sets is included in the "Related to" section of the bibliography this data set is part of. The spectral raw data of the measurements is stored on the measurement data server of the Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Heidelberg